From the Jamaican Olympic Trials in our National Stadium right through to the Grand Gala in the same location, it was a season of colourful and cultural events celebrating our history and our achievements as a nation.

But it did not begin in August. From January, we began a whole series of national, international, corporate and individual celebrations.

For example, master painter Barrington Watson had us all celebrating with his retrospective exhibition of his works which span 50 years, some of which were mounted in three galleries over three months.

From the airport welcome, through the streets of Jamaica you could not miss that we were a nation in celebration mode. Corporate and public buildings were festively draped in the colours of our national flag. And they remain draped.

The University of the West Indies hosted the 50/50 Conference, a series of seminars encouraging reflection and thought-provoking discussions on the way forward as a Caribbean region.